Washington governor suspends death penalty in state

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee announced he is suspending the use of the death penalty in Washington state.

According to a draft statement obtained by The Associated Press, Inslee said that the use of the death penalty is inconsistent and unequal.

“Equal justice under the law is the state’s primary responsibility,” he said in the written statement. “And in death penalty cases, I’m not convinced equal justice is being served. The use of the death penalty in this state is unequally applied, sometimes dependent on the budget of the county where the crime occurred.” …

Inslee’s moratorium means that if a death penalty case comes to his desk, he will issue a reprieve, which isn’t a pardon and doesn’t commute the sentences of those condemned to death.